Press & Quotes

Dirty Mae is an NYC born-and-bred, award-winning indie folk band blending bluegrass, blues, rock, latin and Americana roots music. With remarkable success, since forming in 2016, it comes as no surprise that venues and festivals across the country are beginning to request Dirty Mae.  In less than 3 years together, they've outgrown their Harlem roots and taken audiences by storm with their truly original sound, powerful performance and theatrical flair.  They headlined Lucille's at BB Kings, (le) poisson rouge, Rockwood Music Hall & Citifield's Subway Series Concert. In 2019 alone, they co-founded the Big Red Fest to empower women in music, received over 20,000 views on SCENES Live Sessions, and were hand-picked by Adam Duritz (of Counting Crows) to perform in his Underwater Sunshine Festival. Their most recent hit single & music video "Big Red," caught the attention of female driven blogs and reviewers nationwide. Their Freshman self-titled EP (released July 2018) showed their knack for songwriting, harmonizing, catchy beats and unique, New Orleans-inspired flair. Their Sophomore Long Play "Holy Mama," released September 2019 and took the nation by storm, showcasing their incredible diversity, range and talent featuring haunting harmonies, raw grit, soulful blues, melodic ballads and foot stomping beats. Their instrumentation includes banjo, harmonica, guitar, piano/organ, bass (upright & electric), fiddle, sax and signature trombone. The album caught the attention of every major news outlet they touched, and their soon-to-be-released 2nd full-length album, "Weight of the World," is going to be nothing short of the same genre-bending, soul reaching, roots music, but unlike anything you've ever heard before, including a few surprise covers that they've been cooking up all year. The band is currently touring and playing festivals, promoting their upcoming album and sharing the magic of music with their fans across the country (and soon to be world).

​

The band was co-founded by three diverse and unique singer/songwriters: California-native Cassie Fireman, Ohioan piano/guitarist Robin Frost, and Tennessee raised banjo/guitarist/harmonica player, Ben Curtis.  Curtis, is no stranger to the spotlight as his vocal grit, southern-bred blues and flair for the dramatic arts, has landed him success in bands for over 20 years (not to mention he was America's favorite TV spokesperson "The Dell Dude").  But it wasn't until he met the sultry and seductive Californian, Cassie Fireman, that he became completely smitten.  Her magnetic cabaret style, crooner-like voice, and an insatiable gift for lyrics and poetry put a spell on the Southern boy. Their connection is electric and there's no escaping their unbreakable bond. They have the wedding rings to prove it, but wait till you see them on stage.  They've since had 3 musical projects together ranging from bluegrass to hard rock. However, something in their sound was missing, and that something was the young musical prodigy, Robin Frost. Curtis befriended Frost when they both played for an indie rock band, Danny Fingers & The Thumbs.  "That band was looking for a new bassist. We found Robbie and he learned our entire set in one night. Not only was he super talented, he was one of the most easy going and loving people I've ever met. If anyone could complete a band with Cassie and me, it was this guy. One day we were at a rehearsal, and Robbie picked up a guitar and started singing... I was floored. He is a great bassist, but an even better guitarist, and when he opened his mouth to sing... wow. He has the voice of an old soul from New Orleans in the 1920's. I pulled out my harmonica, and we wrote 4 songs right there on the spot."  Curtis & Frost immediately left the Thumbs, started their own project with Miss Fireman, and the rest was history.  Thus emerged the truly unique sound that is DIRTY MAE.

With the three founding members coming from completely different backgrounds, it's hard to nail their sound into one genre. One editor described it as "New Orleans Ghost Folk." Emmy-nominated composer, Michael Whalen said "it's like listening to two characters from a Faulkner novel making music today." Our Northern contingency calls it "indie folk," while our Southern friends say "just call it Americana!"  Whatever you call it, it is an unforgettable sound of old and new worlds, that will keep you swinging all night long.  Together they are a recipe for unmistakable success.  Just read the reviews. This band is on fire and they don't plan on stopping anytime soon.